Football FanCast
·18 February 2022
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·18 February 2022
An update has emerged regarding transfer interest in Celtic defender Boli Bolingoli-Mbombo…
According to Football Insider, Russian outfit FC Ufa are in talks with the Hoops over a potential deal to sign the full-back on loan until the end of the season.
The report claims that discussions are underway for the move to take place, as he does not feature in Ange Postecoglou’s short-term plans.
Instead of sending out Bolingoli-Mbombo on a temporary basis, the Australian boss must brutally axe him from the club entirely by pushing for a sale. If possible, Celtic must look to cash in on him now and move him on from Parkhead rather than only having a solution until June.
The full-back is simply not good enough for the Hoops, as he is a liability on and off the pitch. He has only played 31 times since joining in 2019, which shows that he does not have the quality – in either Neil Lennon’s or Postecoglou’s eyes – to be a regular fixture in the team, indicating that he is not up to the standard required.
Off the pitch, he has also shown that he can be a liability. After causing two games to be postponed in 2020 due to a secret trip to Spain amidst pandemic-related travel restrictions, Bolingoli-Mbombo was blasted by his then-manager Lennon, who said:
“I am livid; total betrayal of trust. He took a flight to Spain on the Monday and flew back on Tuesday – one day in Spain, no logic to that – and decided to keep it to himself.
“We couldn’t have done any more as a club to maintain the standards. This is a rogue who has gone off tangent and decided to do something very, very selfish.
“We were livid and appalled. We have been bitterly, sorely let down by the selfish actions of one individual. He blatantly disregarded instructions.”
This suggests that the 26-year-old is not someone who can be relied upon by the manager, as Lennon stated that the club were felt let down by his actions. However, it is worth pointing out that he may have learned from his mistakes and improved as a person.
His performances on the pitch have not improved, though, as Postecoglou has only deemed him worthy of two appearances in the Premiership this season. This is why the Hoops boss must push for Bolingoli-Mbombo to be sold on a permanent basis to the Russian club instead of being loaned out, because his time at Celtic so far does not suggest that he will come good any time soon.